Just my last .02......I wrote Whirlpool a second time after I read a post at another site:

"The repairman stated that this part fails frequently as there was a manufacturing defect and the parts are now made by a supplier in the US rather than in China as was originally the case." I've checked about 10 places online and all are 'out of stock'.

I've seen so many posts re: problems with this part that I will never purchase another Whirlpool (or Maytag, or any other company associated with them). I'd bet money that Whirlpool knows all about this part and is sticking to the one year warranty so they don't have to repair thousands of appliances....